Longtime Yukon firefighter served community, country
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A longtime Yukon volunteer firefighter was laid to rest Friday in his hometown, given the traditional honor of a procession of firetrucks from several South Huntingdon departments and surrounding communities.
The funeral procession for Jeffrey A. Kite, 61, who had been a member of the fire company for 45 years, wound its way from Seven Dolors Church in Yukon and beneath the raised ladders of the Scottdale and Smithton fire departments, which held an oversized American flag.
Kite, who died April 16, 2022, joined the Yukon Volunteer Fire Company in 1977, the same year as his brother, Mark Kite Sr.
“If you stopped down at the (Yukon) firehall in the afternoon, you could find (Jeff) here during the day,” said John Stants, fire department deputy chief.
Jeff and Mark Kite were following a family tradition when they joined the department. Their grandfather and father were firefighters.
Jeff Kite was “very active” in the department, serving as vice president and lieutenant, Stants said. Kite wrote grants for the fire company in 2005.
His brother Mark became the Yukon fire chief. Another brother, Brian, is chief of the East Huntingdon department.
“He will be missed,” Stants said.
The department honored Jeff Kite this week by hanging bunker gear outside the firehall in the center of the South Huntingdon village.
He was born June 3, 1960, in Greensburg, son of the late Gerald A. and Julia Anne Slivensky Kite.
After graduating from Yough High School in 1978, Kite served in the Air Force for three years. He worked as a truck driver for more than 40 years for Carr Transport of Hempfield and T.R. Bowman Inc.
Kite also was a member of the Madison Volunteer Fire Company and the Westmoreland County Fireman’s Association.
He was a volunteer for Sewickley Ambulance Service for 40 years, serving as an emergency medical technician, said Michael Stangroom, executive director of the Rostraver-West Newton Emergency Services.
Kite was part of the Westmoreland County Animal Response Team, Stants said.
“He loved his animals,” Stants said.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Veronica Milsop Kite. In addition to his brothers, he is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Y. Kite of Armbrust and Danielle Moose of Yukon.